Wire type hose clamp



v Och 1957 F. J. KLANCNIK, JR 2,810,943

WIRE TYPE HOSE CLAMP Filed Aug. 6, 1954 a??? I F 522 atent Patented Oct. 29, 1957 2,810,943 WIRE TYPE Hosa CLAMP Frank J. Klancnik, Jr., Chicago, lil. Application August 6, H54, Serial No. 448,198

3 Claims. (CI. 24-27) The present invention relates generally to clamps. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of clamp which is designed primarily to clamp one end of a hose around one end of a conduit, is formed of a length of wire, has its central portion bent to form a loop for encircling the one end of the hose, has its end portions arranged in side-by-side relation and extending in opposite directions, has the extremities of its end portions bent outwards, and is provided with means whereby the end portions thereof may be forced away from one another in order to contract the loop and thus cause it firmly to clamp the one end of the hose around the one end of the conduit.

One object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the aforementioned type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed clamps and is characterized by simplicity of design or construction and low cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the type and character under consideration in which the means for forcing away from one another. the end portions of the loop-forming length of wire is in the form of a zigzag piece of wire which is disposed outwards of said end portions, has its ends connected to the outwardly bent extremities of the end portions of the loop-forming length of wire, is arranged so that the zigzags thereof lie in a plane at right angles to the plane of the loop, is adapted when its zigzags are subjected to a squeezing action for flattening purposes to increase in length and hence force the end portions of the loopforming length of wire away from one another for loop contracting purposes, and is formed of wire of the type :that is resilient but will when sharply bent retain the bend to the end that its zigzags after being subjected to a squeezing action will tend to remain in the flattened condition into which they are squeezed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hose clamp of the last mentioned character in which the ends of the zigzag wire piece are formed integrally with the outwardly bent extremities of the end portions of the loop-forming length of wire. A still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a hose clamp which is generally of new and improved construction, effectively and eff ciently fulfills its intends-11 purpose and is capable of being applied to, and removed from, a hose with ease or facility.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present hose clamp will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a hose clamp embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the hose clamp after it has been applied to a hose around a conduit but before flattening of the zigzags of the zigzag wire piece for loop contracting purposes;

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the clamp before the loop is contracted around the hose; and

Figure 4 is a similar section except that it shows the zigzag wire piece after it has been elongated or extended as the result of flattening of the zigzags thereof by a squeezing action.

The hose clamp that is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. it consists of a length 5 of wire and a zigzag wire piece 6 and serves as a medium or instrumentality for clamping one end of a hose 7 around one end of a conduit 8. It is contemplated that the hose 7 will be formed of rubber, rubberized fabric or any other compressible material. The conduit 8 is illustrated in the drawing as being a pipe nipple although it is to be understood that it may be any other tubular element through which fluid material is adapted to flow. The clamp when in its operative position serves to clamp and contract the one end of the hose around the one end of the conduit and thus form a fluid type joint or seal. The wire of which the length 5 and the piece 6 are formed is preferably circular in cross section. It is formed of any suitable metal and is of the type that is inherently resilient but will when sharply bent retain the bend.

The central portion of the wire length 5 is bent to form a circular loop 9. It is contemplated that normally the internal diameter of the loop 9 will be slightly greater than the external diameter of the hose 7. The end portions of the wire length 5 are designated in the drawing by the reference numeral 10 and are arranged so that they are in side-by-side relation and extend in opposite directions. Preferably, the end portions 10 are curved or arcuate in order to complete the loop 9. The extremities of the end portions 10 are designated by the reference numeral 11 and are bent at substantially right angles and so as to extend outwards.

The zigzag wire piece 6 is disposed at small distance outwards of the end portions 10 of the Wire length 5 and is bent back and forth throughout substantially its entire length in order to form a series of zigzags 12. The latter are arranged so that they lie in a plane that is normal or at right angles to the plane of the loop 9. The ends of the zigzag wire piece 6 are connected to, and formed integrally with, the outer ends of the outwardly bent extremities 11. In order to contract the loop 9, it is contemplated that the zigzags 12 of the zigzag wire piece 6 will be partially flattened by subjecting them to a squeezing action. Such action may be obtained by pliers or any other jaw-type tool wherein the jaws are disposed in opposed relation and are arranged so as to move towards and away from one another in parallel relation. When the zigzags 12 of the zigzag wire piece 6 are partially flattened by subjecting them to a squeezing action, the length of the zigzag wire piece is increased. Any increase in length on the part of the zigzag wire piece 6 results in the end portions 10 being forced away from one another and effecting contraction of the loop 9. The degree of contraction of the loop 9 is dependent upon the extent to which the zigzags 12 are flattened. If the zigzags are flattened to a substantial extent, the loop 9 is contracted to a substantial extent. If the zigzags are flattened to a lesser extent, the amount of contraction of the loop is correspondingly lessened. Because of the character or physical properties of the wire of which the zigzag wire piece 6 is formed, the zigzags 12 after being flattened as .hereinbefore pointed out .tend .to .remain in their flattened condition and as a result the zigzag wire piece 6 will hold the loop '9 in its contracted position. ilhe uzigzagtwirtpiece' 6 is' formed rof ;:twoiiequal-ilength sections and has the abutting or adjoininguendst'of the sections thereof Econnected :together by welding :as :at 13.

:Intconnectioniwith;nse;of thexlamp,:itfisrconternplated that the loop 9-;wil1;be slidinto :encirclingrelationawith :an:extent.that:it;causes:the hose 7Tt0b8 firmly clamped around ;the "conduit 28 1 as. shown in figure-f4 .of the draw- .ing. Removal :of :the clamp :from .the hose '7 .may be .efiected;in v.either .of two ways. ;Firstly, -.the zigzag :wire piece :6 may be :severedat the weld .13 orany other place alongits length. .-'After:the .aseveringoperation, it is contemplated .that the..;severed sSCCtiQHS .of .the wire piece will be manipulated into ilaterally :otfset relation 7 and pulled towards ;,one:another :so as :to -move the -;end

.portions .10 of :the wire :length 15 towards one another. Such vmovement on the part of .the end portions 10 :resultsiinaexpansiomof the loop:.). isecondly theiigzag wire length 6 may be showed or .flexed .outwards .by applying :a suitable ;pry itO the .central portion of the piece. In connection with outwardbowing .ordiexingof tthe :piece 6, the end portions .10 ;-are scaused :to move together thereby aresulting in desired expansion of :the =1oop59. a

'ZTheIherein described :hoseclamp is essentially :simple :in design'and mayz-be produced :at an extremely:low cost. iltseffectively and efiic'iently .fulfills its intended-purpose :and athis .is-.directly attributable to the vfactithat it includes the .z'igzag wire piece 6 as the .means or medium for reflecting .contraction of the loop9.

. The invention is not to :be understood .as restricted ;to the details set forth since these .may be modified within the scope of the appendedclairnszwithout depart- ;ingtfromthespirit and scope of the-invention.

Having.thus described the invention what :I :claim as :ne waand desire to secure 'byLetters Patentis:

1. As a new article .ofmanufacture, aclamp adapted :toaextend around a hose and clamp the latter on a. conduit and comprisinga length of .wirelhaving the central portion thereof :bent-to form a circular, hoseaencirclingrloop the internal diameter of 'whichlis originally greater than :the. external diameter z-of zthe .hose, .and having its end :portions arranged in side+b y.-side relation, l-extending in opposite directions and. provided with outwardly bent .:extremities,;and a:zigzag-piece of wire disposed outwards -of2the:end portions of'the'length-of wire, having its .ends connected directly to said outwardly bent extremities, and adapted when'its zigzags aresubjected to asqueezing cactionzfor flattening purposes .to increase in length :and

-hence -force .said end portions .away .from ronetanother T and eflfect contraction of the loop into firmly clamped relation with the hose, said zigzag piece being formed of wire that is resilient but will when sharply bent retain the bend to the end that its zigzags afterbeing subjected to a squeezing action for loop contracting purposes will tend to remain in the fiattenedtcondition into which they are squeezed and thus substantially positively hold the loop in the contractedposition.

2. As a new article of.manufacture, a clamp adapted to extend around-a'h'ose-and clampthe latter on a conduit and comprising. a -length of' wire .having .thecentral portion thereof bent to form a circular, hose encircling loop the internal diameter of which is'originally greater than the external diameter of the hose, and having its end portions arranged in side-by-side relation, extending in opposite directions and provided with outwardly bent extremities, and a :zigzag piece of wire;disposed-. outwards of the .end :portions .ofthe length of wire, having its ends connected directly :to said outwardly bent extremities, arranged .so that ;the zigzags ,thereof lie in a plane at right angles totthe plane-of the loop and .adaptedwhen' its zigzags are subjected to a squeezing actionforfiatteningpu-rposes -.to.increase in length and-hence force' said end portions away from one anothenandefiect contradtion-of the loop rinto firmly clamped relation with the hose, said zigzag ;piece being formed of .wire :that ;is resilient but will when .sharply ,hent retain the bend to the -end .that its zigzags 'after being subjected :to a squeezing action for loop contracting purposes will tend tojremain in the flattened condition into which they are squeezed and thus substantially positivelyhold :the loop .in its contracted position.

3. v Asanew article-of manufacture, ;a clamp adapted to extendga'round ahoseand clamp thelatter on a conduit and comprising a length'of wire-havingthe centralportion thereof bent :to form ;a .hose encircling loop the internal diameter of which is originally ;,greater than-the externaldiameter .ofjthe-hose, and. having itsend portions arranged in side byside relation, extending in -opposite directions-andprovided with outwardly bent extremities, anda zigzag piece of wire disposed .outwards of the.end portionsofthe length of wire,*havingits ends connected to, and .formed integrally with, said outwardly bent extremities and adapted when itszigzags are subjected to a squeezing .actionfor .flattening purposes toincreasein lengthand hence force'saidendportions awayvfrom one another and effect contraction of :the loop into .firmly clamped :relation with the hose, said zigzag piece being formed of wire that is resilient but will when sharply bent retain the bend .to the end that its zigzags after being subjected to a squeezing action forloop contracting purposes will tend to remain in .the flattened condition into which they are squeezed and thus substantially positively hold the loopin its contracted position. 7

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS V Preston July 31, I883 282,466 1,904,727 Hanh Apr.'-18, 1933 2,472,172 7 Ovens et a'l. June 7, --l949 

